I just discovered this great challenge.
https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/song-lyric-sunday-theme-for-7316/
It really caught my attention for a few reasons.
- I love music, especially lyrics. I actually USE them in my life, especially in my work.
- I love that a Mom in Utah takes her children to live music concerts!
- I love that the song she chose for today is by Midnight Oil, and that my husband’s band of many years plays it regularly!
- I am surrounded by live music in my personal life (partner, son, grandson, daughter-in-law, and many friends) and now my 2 grandsons (10 and 13) live with me so I really want to avoid that generation gap trap about music. I do not ever want to judge today’s music by my old standards.
Helen’s specific challenge today was to share the lyrics from a song at one of your very first live concerts. I wrote her and said that I could not actually remember if it was James Brown (with Fontella Bass “Rescue Me”) or Peter, Paul and Mary. Talk about opposites. If I had photos from those early concerts they would be perfect for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge theme-“Opposites”.
But the more I thought about it the more I realized the concert that really got to me back then was a Simon and Garfunkel show.
Recently my son, with whom I have always been in musical sync, sat me down and made me listen to a song on his elaborate beyond my understanding, sound and visual system.
Coincidentally, it was the following song.
The Sound Of Silence (3:08)
P. Simon, 1964
Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
“Fools,” said I, “you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence
He made me listen twice, knowing that the first time through I should probably close my eyes as the video is pretty intense and might be distracting. I had no idea what was coming. (He was right. It was hard for this 68 year old not to assume things about the look of the singer or the name of the band, as well as the visual images.) We listened together and were both in tears at the end, just from the sheer power of the artistry.
SO anyway, here’s what he played for me. Crank up the volume. Close your eyes. And stay with it to the end. You might be surprised!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Dg-g7t2l4
Thanks. I hope it means something to you too.
I love love love this version. I posted it myself for Song Lyric Sunday a few months ago. Mine was a beautiful story with my brother and his baby.
Thank you so much for your words. You almost had me in tears! I feel the same way about the generation gap and I love that there are others out there who feel the same way. Well done!
Wow, thanks! I’d love to see your post but I am still new enough I can barely find an old post of my own. How do I find yours? (And by the way, did I post mine the right way? I couldn’t get your picture to copy and I still don’t quite get Ping Backing.)
This is the theme post that I usually throw up on Saturday afternoon: https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/07/02/song-lyric-sunday-theme-for-7316/
And this was mine: https://helenespinosa.wordpress.com/2016/07/03/song-lyric-sunday-beds-are-burning-by-midnight-oil/
It probably makes it easier to follow my blog so you will see it pop up on your reader, but it’s not necessary. You can always just check back on Saturday and Sunday.
I found your post because the pingback worked, so you probably know more than you realize. 🙂 Welcome again, and welcome to blogging! 🙂
Got it. Thanks. I’m now following you. If I look up your site and add Sounds of Silence by Disturbance, will I find that post?
Yes, that will pull it up, I believe; or, there’s a search icon at the top right of my blog as well.
Found it and now I’M crying again too!!
Awww. It has a tendency to do that.
I love this song and the video of it you chose to use. It sure brings back memories.
I’m so glad you participated in this prompt because it gave me a chance to take part in it too!
one of my very favorites 🙂
You were definitely my inspiration!
Isn’t it amazing how a song can completely transport us back to another time? I used to listen to the entire album while lying on my brother’s bed (he had a great sound system hooked up in his room and I would sneak in there when he was at work) while I watched the rain saturating the neighborhood and pouring out of the gutters on the house next door. I’ve been listening to this version for a few months now on Sirius radio but had not seen the video so I completely ignored your instructions, watched it…..and loved it! Proving that even though I’m an “old dog” I can still learn to appreciate new interpretations!
Oh I’m so glad you liked the video also. I was so touched to see his passion for the song, right? I should have know it would be a good visual for more than just me…